An aspiring lawyer from Guernsey has taken a major step forward in her legal career thanks to a professional qualification gained during two years at Ellis Jones Solicitors.

Daisy Kershaw is the second solicitor at the regional law firm to qualify by passing the two-stage Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). A member of the Wills, Trusts & Probate department and based in Ellis Jones’ Canford Cliffs, Poole, office, Daisy has been with the firm since January 2023.

After graduating with a first-class honours degree in law from Bournemouth University in 2022, she joined as a paralegal and balanced her work with preparations for taking the SQE.

During her university course, she did a two-year voluntary internship as a legal support administrator at BHSupport, a community interest company based in Southbourne that provides legal advice. While there, she gained practical experience mainly in family law.

Before Ellis Jones, she also spent time as a paralegal at another legal firm, focused on residential conveyancing. She is the latest in a number of recruits and young lawyers who have been supported in their careers by Ellis Jones.

The firm, which has eight offices in Bournemouth, Poole, Ringwood, Swanage, Broadstone, Wimborne and London, has a policy of providing training contracts and other professional development opportunities.

Alongside senior staff, its 178-strong team includes graduates, legal executives, placement students and others with an interest in legal work. The first team member to qualify as a solicitor through the SQE route was Leah Sharman in the Banking & Finance Litigation department in 2024.

Daisy, who is also Social Events Officer at the Bournemouth & District Junior Lawyers Division, paid tribute to Ellis Jones colleagues for supporting her as she balanced day-to-day work in the Wills, Trusts & Probate team with study for her SQE. She said:

“Colleagues have been completely supportive and I think that the experience I have gained already will be invaluable in my career as a solicitor.”

Ellis Jones Solicitors Managing Partner Nigel Smith said:

“Daisy displayed both talent and enthusiasm as she worked towards and passed her SQE and qualified as a solicitor. We are delighted to help young graduates start and develop their careers and the relevant skills they need to progress.”